'Tragedy in the making'? Ormond road project squeezes out cyclists

In each outside lane, several symbols that include a large bicycle with arrows have been painted on the road, giving some the impression of a designated bike lane.

CHRIS GRAHAMSTAFF WRITER

ORMOND BEACH — The beautification project along Granada Boulevard in Ormond Beach was designed to slow down motorists while making it more attractive for pedestrians, businesses and others. Signs soon began popping up along the newly paved section of the busy thoroughfare urging motorists to share the road with bicycles. Jack Gonzalez, though, says he finds himself these days riding in the gutters. “It used to be a lot safer, you would at least have some space,” said Gonzalez, who owns The Bike Shop on nearby Yonge Street. Gonzalez isn't the only one concerned about bicyclists riding on the main road through the city's downtown. One elected city official believes there is a potential for disaster. “It's a tragedy in the making, I just hope and pray it doesn't happen,” said City Commissioner Troy Kent, whose zone includes downtown and who recently took up biking. Earlier this year, crews transformed a section of State Road 40 from Washington to Beach Street by narrowing the lanes and adding medians in an attempt to slow traffic and make the road more pedestrian-friendly. In the coming months, the city will bury utility and telephone lines and later add palm trees and decorative lighting. One addition to the road, though, has caused some confusion. In each outside lane, several symbols that include a large bicycle with arrows have been painted on the road, giving some the impression of a designated bike lane (the roadway previously did not have a bike lane but was wider). But the state Department of Transportation says the marking, also known as a sharrow, means motorists and bicyclists should share the road. FDOT spokesman Steve Olson said there was some concern about putting sharrows on the roadway, but consultants thought cyclists would want to continue using Granada. “We thought it was the prudent thing to do,” Olson said. But bicyclists say it has them feeling too close for comfort, Gonzalez said. Gonzalez, who rides about 25 to 100 miles a day, said he had a close call soon after construction was complete and tries to avoid the roadway. ¶ “A lot of people I talk to ask, ‘What were they thinking?’ ” he said. ¶ Aside from bicyclists, the project has been well-received. Downtown business owners, in particular, are happy with the progress on Granada, said Julia Truilo, executive director of Ormond MainStreet. “They're excited about how nice the entryway is going to look,” she said. Many are in agreement that the markings are misleading and dangerous, Truilo said. City officials say they asked the state agency to remove the sharrows. “No one but FDOT thinks it's a good idea,” Truilo said. “The city doesn't think so, we don't think so. It's a hiccup in the project, but it needs to get resolved.” City officials say they will try to divert cyclists off Granada to designated bicycle lanes on Tomoka and Lincoln avenues, to the north and south of Granada. Commissioner Kent said he likes the idea. “It would be better than trying to fit into traffic,” he said. Gonzalez said if no one starts telling bicyclists to stay away from Granada Boulevard, then he will. “I'm worried people are going to get run over,” he said.